Folding table.



No. 663,272. Patented Dec. 4, I900. H. L. HASKELL.-

FOLDING TABLE.

(Application filed Dec. 80, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wli Eases UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

HENRY L. HASKELL, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THELUDINGTON.NOVELTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,272, dated December4, 1900.

A li ti fil d December 80, 1899. Serial No. 742,102. (No model.)

To all whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. HASKELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ludington, in the county of Mason and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Tables, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact speciiication.

My invention relates to that class of folding tables in which the legsare so arranged as to be folded flat against the under side thereof whennot in use; and my invention has for its primary object to provide animproved and simple construction for holding the legs rigidly in theiroperative position and at the same time permitting them to be readilyfolded into a compact form and safe position against the under side ofthe table-top.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts bywhich the said object and certain other objects hereinafter describedare attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of myimproved table, showing the legs in their operative position. Fig. 2 isa bottom plan thereof, showing the legs folded up; and Fig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1, also showing the legs folded up.

1 represents the table-top, which may be of the usual or any suitableconstruction, and to the under side of which are hinged a pair ofcross-bars 2, each of whichconjoins the legs at each end of the table insuch way that both legs at each end may be simultaneously folded upagainst the bottom of the table-top and when in position, as in Fig. 1,will be rigidly braced. The pair of legs at one end of the table are sohinged and arranged with relation to the legs at the other end that whenthe two pairs of legs are folded up against the bottom of the table theywill pass each other, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus permitting each pairto come against the table-top, and

thereby not only make the folded form a compact one, but cause each pairof legs to project or guard the free ends of the other pair and reduceto the minimum the liability of breakage.

Secured to the under side of the table-top 1 and extendinglongitudinally thereof is a bar 3, which, if desired, may beconveniently and cheaply constructed of wood and having its upper sideadjacent to the table-top cut away, as shown at 4, to form alongitudinal slot, the upper side of the slot being constituted by thebottom of thetable. This slot 4 forms a runway and guide for the upperend of each of two braces 5, whose outer or lower ends are pivotallyattached to the legs at the opposite ends of the table. Each of thesebraces 5 is preferably V-shaped, as indicated in Fig. 2, having theirdiverged ends turned outwardly into sockets formed in the legs, as shownat 6, while at their upper ends they are formed with a transverseportion 7, which extends through the slot 4. When the legs are foldedup, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the transverse portions 7 run along the slot tothe mid-length thereof or approach each other, as will be understood,and when the legs are set up in their operative position they run to theouter ends of the slot, and if when in this position they are given adownward pull they engagein notches 8, extending downwardly from thebottom of the slot and being formed on an incline extending inwardly, sothat the braces may not be disengaged from such notches 8 during theordinary use of the table, but in order to be disengaged for permittingthe legs to be folded up must first be pulled outwardly and upwardly.When in operative position, however, the sides of the notches 8 aresubstantially at right angles to the end thrust of the braces 5,and'consequently avoid accidental displacement of such braces.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new and useful article of manufacture a folding table having atable top, the legs hinged thereto, V-shaped braces pivotall-y securedto said legs for holding them in their operative position and a barsecured to the under side of the table-top and having its upper sideadjacent to the top cut away from a point a short distance from each endtoward its mid-length so as to form with the tabletop a longitudinalslot, said out-away portion leading downwardly at its extreme outer endsto a notch 8 and said braces being passed through said out-away portionor slot and adapted to engage in said notches when the legs are in theiroperative position, the side of each of said notches remote from thebrace engaging therein being formed at an angle to such brace wherebythe brace will abut there- 10 against and be locked thereby,substantially as set forth. I

HENRY L. I-IASKELL.

Vitnesses:

M. A. MARSH, D. W. TANNER.

